Who Is Orrin Hatch? His Net Worth, Wife, Kids and Education

Orrin Hatch is a retiring United States Senator for Utah who has served seven six-year terms of office from 1977 to 2018. This makes him the longest-serving Senator from the Republican party in the history of the U.S. as well as one of only two sitting U.S. Senators to have come to Congress during President Gerald Ford’s administration.

Hatch was a practicing attorney before taking the oath of office, he has been able to establish himself as a leading conservative voice in the upper chamber of Congress. Orrin has used his position to sponsor more bills that have become law than any other legislator alive, as of 2018. He has also been responsible for attracting conservative Christians and Mormons to the Republican Party.

Early Life and Education, Who Is Orrin Hatch?

Orrin Grant Hatch was born as one of nine children to Helen Frances Hatch (née Kamm) and Jesse Hatch on the 22nd of March, 1934 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he was raised. His family was a low-income one as his father worked as a metal lather. This meant that Hatch grew up in poverty, however, his ambition to live a better life propelled him to become the first member of his family to attend college.

While attending Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Hatch embarked on an amateur boxing career that saw him step into the ring 11 times. In 1959, he graduated from university with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He immediately returned to school at the University of Pittsburgh to study law, receiving a Juris Doctor degree in 1962. Hatch almost soon after began working as an attorney in Pittsburgh before relocating to Utah in 1969 where he continued to practice.

In 1976, Orrin Hatch launched his first bid to the United States Senate, challenging three-term Senator Frank Moss on the grounds that he had spent so much time in office and had lost touch with constituents. Hatch went on to beat Moss in the election and has since that time successfully defended his seat without any substantive opposition.

As a member of the Senate, Hatch once served as Chairman of ranking minority member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (1981 to 1987), Committee on the Judiciary (1993 to 2005), and the Committee on Finance (2018). In 2000, he made a bid for the Republican presidential ticket but lost to then-Texas Governor and eventual general elections winner George W. Bush. He has also expressed interest in serving on the United Supreme Court but has never been nominated to the position. The only time he came close to getting the nod was during President Ronald Reagan’s term when he was shortlisted as a replacement for Lewis F. Powell Jr.

In 2017, during President Trump’s inauguration ceremony, Orrin Hatch served as the designated presidential successor at the incoming president’s request.

Orrin Hatch Net Worth

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Orrin Hatch is said to have a net worth estimated to be $4.96 million. The GOP Senator was able to amass this net worth from investments in the finance, insurance, energy, and real estate sectors. He is also said to have a large number of assets which accounts for more than half of that figure.

Bizarrely, the United States senator has also earned a significant amount of money from his work as a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ recording artist. He co-wrote a song with American country singer Billy Gilman and also jointly recorded an album with Latter-Day Saints’ songwriter Janice, Kapp Perry.

His Wife and Kids

Orrin Hatch has been married for more than half a century, since the 28th of August, 1957 to be exact. The long-time lawmaker wedded his life partner Elaine Hansen that year and the two have since that time enjoyed a life that has been without any controversy. In 2017, Hatch took to social media to celebrate his 60th wedding anniversary by posting a picture of him and his wife carrying a balloon that said “60” with a caption that described Elaine as his wonderful companion.

Together, the couple has welcomed six children; Scott Hatch, Alysa Hatch, Brent Hatch, Jesse Hatch, Marcia Hatch, and Kimberly Hatch. They further have 23 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. One of Hatch’s children, Scott, has taken a career, not exactly in politics, but however in Washington as a lobbyist. He works for lobbying firm Walker, Martin & Hatch LLC.